Today's Meditation
Read Isaiah 30:8-14
8Go now, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, so that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. 9For they are a rebellious people, faithless children, children who will not hear the instruction of the Lord; 10who say to the seers, “Do not see”; and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, 11leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” 12Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: Because you reject this word, and put your trust in oppression and deceit, and rely on them; 13therefore this iniquity shall become for you like a break in a high wall, bulging out, and about to collapse, whose crash comes suddenly, in an instant; 14its breaking is like that of a potter’s vessel that is smashed so ruthlessly that among its fragments not a sherd is found for taking fire from the hearth, or dipping water out of the cistern.
I'm at a loss this morning in writing today's meditation. It aches my heart, my spirit, my soul to think about everything my black and brown brothers and sisters go through on a daily basis because of the color of their skin. They have asked, pleaded, demanded to be looked upon with equity and value for generations. Yet, we continually oppress them, individually and systemically. And if you even begin to justify in your heart and in your mind behaviors, actions, and thoughts regarding this issue, you don't understand it and you certainly don't "get it".
We, as Christians are to be IN the world, but not OF the world. Therefore, it is our duty to stand up against oppression that has justified slavery, lynching, segregation, socio-economic divides, and inequality. If you look throughout history, even if you don't look in the Scriptures (and by the way, there are over 70 passages that condemn the oppressor and lift up those who are oppressed!), you'll find that the oppressed will only take being oppressed for so long until they rise. Justice is nearly always, eventually, on their side. It never ends well for anyone. Yes, there have been accounts throughout history where the oppressed were nearly or completely wiped out. But that is certainly not what the Biblical account requires. In fact, that is the opposite of what is spoken about in this passage from Isaiah. Here, it is a warning to the oppressor; the damn will burst, the bulge will give way and your well constructed life of oppression will shatter like "the breaking of a potter's vessel that is smashed so ruthlessly that among its fragments not a sherd is found..."
We must stand on the side of the oppressed in every way possible, right now. It is their duly upheld right to live without fear, and to be treated with equity and justice.
Glory by John Legend
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